Wrist watch band



NOV. 2 5, 1947. FQRSTNER 2,431,392

' wRIsT WATCH BAND Firled June 5, 1943 Patented Nov. 25, 1947 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE WRIST WATCH BAND New Jersey Application June 5,1943, Serial No. 489,850

(Cl. (i3-4) 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to the jewelry art, and has particularreference to length adjustable bands for wrist watches.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a novel Wristwatch band construction which permits instant adjustment of the bandlength to fit the wrist of the wearer, and which is easily and quicklyopened to allow removal of the wrist watch and band.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and easilymanipulated catch arrangement that is particularly suitable for linkbands of the length adjustable type.

Still another object is to provide a compact catch arrangementconsisting of a small number of readily manufactured and assembledparts.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, theinvention consists of a novel construction and arrangement of parts morefully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, and more specifically dened in theclaims appended thereto.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view showing a link type wrist watch bandequipped with the novel catch arrangement, one end of the band beingshown in overlapping relation to the other end.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the catch arrangement, the lock platebeing in open position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of the rear of the catch arrangement, part ofthe inner band en being broken away;

Fdig. 4 is a perspective view of the catch parts; an FFig. 5 is anenlarged section on the line 5--5 of The invention pertains to Wristwatch bands of the length adjustable type, in which one end of the bandhas an open end link through which the other end of the ban-d passes,this other end being extended in overlapping arrangement to the firstend and movable to extend or to shorten the length of the band, a catchbeing mounted on this other end for 'separable locking to the contiguousportion of the first end in order to retain the band at the desiredlength. With this construction the ends of the band are never completelyseparated, and the wrist watch and its band can never fall off the wristof the wearer.

The heretofore used catch arrangements for this type of wrist watch bandhave included a detachable lock device which is in two parts, one partbeing a latch element which is adjustably positioned on one portion ofthe band and the other part being a catch element positioned on theoverlapping portion of the band for detachable connection to the latchelement. In accordance with the present invention, the band itself isconstructed to serve as the latch element and cooperateswth a novelcatch mounted on the overlapping portion of the band to obtain thedesired band length.

Referring to the drawings, the wrist watch band I0 is preferably made upof a number of links II having transverse slots I2 and secured togetherby connectors I3 which are rolled over the sides I4 of the links andthus provide a flexible construction for the bracelet or band. One endI5 of the band has an open link I6 at its end through which the otherend I'I of the band passes, a plate element I8 of a novel catch I9 beingsecured to the end I'I and being of a size to prevent withdrawal of theband end through the link I6.

As shown in Fig. 4, the plate element I8 has two downwardly extendinghook teeth 2B which are adapted to be set over the side of a particularconnector I3 of the overlapped band portion, see Fig. 3, and also has acentral recess or depression 2l and a lock plate 22 which is pivotallymounted on the other end of the plate element I8 and is adapted to seatin the recess 2|. The pivotal mounting is obtained by rolling the plateend 23 over a transverse rod 24 of the plate element I8. The forward endof the plate 22 has a depending resilient finger 25 which has a roll end26 and is adapted to snap over the forward edge 2l of the plate elementI8 and the rear edge of the next contiguous connector I3 to seat in atransverse slot I2, thus providing a releasable locking of the end ofthe overlying band portion to the contiguous portion of the underlyingband portion. The preferred material for the band and the catch ismetal, as the parts may be readily stamped out and assembled, but anysuitable material may be used.

Although the band described and illustrated is made of a plurality oflinks hingedly or pivotally connected together, any other construction0f band which is exible and which has openings spaced along the lengththereof may be utilized for detachably receiving the catch, which hasone part for hooking over the rear edge of a selected opening and asecond part for snapping past the forward edge of the opening to seatwithin the opening.

While I have describe-d one specific embodiment of the invention, it isobvious that changes in the size, shape and material of the parts may bemade to suit the requirements for different Wrist watch band andbracelet designs, without departing from the spirit and the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a wrist watch band comprising two portions in overlappingarrangement, one portion having a plurality of spaced openings, an endcatch arrangement on the other portion comprising a hook element adaptedto engage one side of a selected opening and a resilient elementindependent of the hook element and movable 'to snap over the oppositeside of the opening.

2. In a wrist watch band comprising two portions in overlappingarrangement, one portion having a plurality of spaced openings, an endcatch arrangement on the other portion comprising a plate member havinga hook element adapted to engage one side of a selected opening and aresilient element independent of the hook element and pivotally mountedon the .plate m'ember and adapted to snap over the opposite side of theopening. n f

v3. In a wrist watch band comprising two portions in overlappingarrangement, one vportion having a plurality of hingedly connectedlinks, said links having transverse openings, an en'd catch arrangementon the otherv .portion comprising a hook element adaptedto engage oneside of a selected transverse opening and a resilient elementindependent of the hook element and pivoted to the catch arrangement andadapted to snap over the opposite sideof the selected transverseopening.

4. In a Wrist watchband comprising twopor.- tions in overlappingarrangement, one portion having a plurality of links having transverseslots and hinge connectors connecting said links, the sides of saidconnectors dening transverse openings, an end catch arrangement on theother portion comprising a plate member having a hook element adapted toengage the side of a selected opening and a plate element hinged to theplate member and having a resilient element adapted to snap over theother side of the selected opening.

5. A catch for a Wrist watch band comprising a plate member having ahook element at one end, and a plate element hinged to the other end ofthe plate member and adapted to extend over the hook element end of theplate member, said plate element having a resilient finger at the freeend thereof.

'6. A catch for 'a wrist watch band comprising a 4plate 'member havingspaced hooks at one end,

and a central recessed portion, and a plate element hinged to the otherend of the plate member and adapted to seat in said recess, said plateelement having a resilient nger at the free end thereof adapted toextend over the hook end of the plate member and between the spacedhooks.

WILLIAM FORSTNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,738,579 Heugas Dec. 1'0, 19201,735,384 Fielding Novl 12, 1929 1,779,068 Krementz Oct 21, 1930

